Why Real Estate Agents Need an Internet Presence
It’s official; real estate agents really do need an
Internet presence. Why? Official reports declare that
these days people interested in buying a home look
for it on the Internet before they have even
contacted an agent. They go to the Internet before
opening a newspaper, especially if they want to buy
in a different region. Have you ever tired to get
newspapers from other regions? And if they want to
sell their home, they tend to put it into an MLS
because they want to save paying the agents fees. So
if you want to be where the action is, you need to be
on the Internet.
It’s not only the popularity of the Internet that should make it attractive to an agent. If used properly, the Internet with all its attendant features like email, sign up forms, auto responders and newsletters, will cut your advertising costs dramatically. Spend a few minutes to add up your postage costs for all those fancy flyers you just sent out. Then compare it with the cost of sending via email. And what about the printing costs in the first place? You can design and send ads via the Internet without using all that paper. Half the time it just gets thrown in the trash anyway. And if the email gets deleted, at least it hasn’t cost you money.
Another reason for an Internet presence is that it will save you time. You can set those emails to go out at regular intervals - daily, weekly, or whatever you desire. This all happens while you are doing other important things. Time is money, so why not automate as much as possible in your hectic schedule?
If you are working for yourself, you may find having an Internet presence means that you have no need to maintain an office. Think of the overheads you’ll save if you simply have a smaller office at your home and let your website be your showcase. If you are just starting up, this could be the way to go. It is possible to reach a much broader area from the Internet than it is from your downtown office. Think of your website in the same manner as you do your mobile phone; indispensable.
People expect you to have a website these days. It is now considered old-fashioned not to. A web site can be generating new leads for you, while you are out on the job chasing up leads from yesterday. It’s like having a partner - one that never sleeps and you don’t have to pay a wage to.
It’s not only the popularity of the Internet that should make it attractive to an agent. If used properly, the Internet with all its attendant features like email, sign up forms, auto responders and newsletters, will cut your advertising costs dramatically. Spend a few minutes to add up your postage costs for all those fancy flyers you just sent out. Then compare it with the cost of sending via email. And what about the printing costs in the first place? You can design and send ads via the Internet without using all that paper. Half the time it just gets thrown in the trash anyway. And if the email gets deleted, at least it hasn’t cost you money.
Another reason for an Internet presence is that it will save you time. You can set those emails to go out at regular intervals - daily, weekly, or whatever you desire. This all happens while you are doing other important things. Time is money, so why not automate as much as possible in your hectic schedule?
If you are working for yourself, you may find having an Internet presence means that you have no need to maintain an office. Think of the overheads you’ll save if you simply have a smaller office at your home and let your website be your showcase. If you are just starting up, this could be the way to go. It is possible to reach a much broader area from the Internet than it is from your downtown office. Think of your website in the same manner as you do your mobile phone; indispensable.
People expect you to have a website these days. It is now considered old-fashioned not to. A web site can be generating new leads for you, while you are out on the job chasing up leads from yesterday. It’s like having a partner - one that never sleeps and you don’t have to pay a wage to.